HC Deb 23 June 2004 vol 422 cc1455-6W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints against(a) employment agencies and (b) businesses required investigation by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in 2002–03. [180041]

Mr. Sutcliffe

In the period 2002–03, the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate received and investigated 716 complaints. The figure for 2003–04 was 1,057. Data broken down between employment agencies and employment business are not available.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many convictions there were of(a) employment agencies and (b) businesses by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in 2002–03; and how many resulted in fines. [180042]

Mr. Sutcliffe

In the period 2002–03, the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) obtained eight convictions against persons who operated as employment agencies. In total £5,735 was awarded in compensation for the workers who gave evidence in these cases. One employment agent was fined £500. There were no convictions against employment business.

In the same period EAS recovered over £14,000 in workers wages from employment agencies and employment businesses without the need to go to court.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) entertainment and (b) model agencies were investigated by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in 2002–03; how many convictions resulted; and in how many cases fines were imposed. [180043]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate investigated 716 complaints during this period. The data available are not broken down by sector of the recruitment industry.

In 2002–03 the EAS obtained eight convictions against persons who operated as entertainment agencies, i.e. finding work for entertainers or background extras on film and television productions. In total, £5,735 was awarded in compensation for the witnesses in these cases. One entertainment agent was fined £500. In the same period there were no convictions against model agencies.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications to prevent(a) employment agencies and (b) businesses trading were made by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in 2003. [180044]

Mr. Sutcliffe

In 2003, the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate made two applications under section 3(a) of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 to prohibit persons from being concerned with the running of an employment agency or employment business. Both applications were successful and the persons were prohibited for the maximum term of 10 years.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what targets she has set for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in relation to visiting(a) employment agencies and (b) businesses; [180045]

(2) what performance targets have been set for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate; and whether she plans to publish an annual report on the Inspectorate's activities. [180046]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate will be publishing an annual report this summer, which will give full details on the Inspectorate's activities and objectives. As soon as it is published, a copy of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.